While Detroit's schedule for major meetings and conventions is about even with last year's, the best is yet to come, according to the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

At least seven or eight new major conventions are headed to Cobo Center this year, and that number is expected to grow to 15-20 in future years, said Bill Bohde, senior vice president, sales and marketing for the bureau.

Among them:

• The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of Apostolic Faith Inc. international convention in July, bringing 6,500 people.

• The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers annual meeting and exhibition in May, bringing 1,200. Tribologists work with interacting surfaces in relative motion, such as in bearings or gears.

• The Progressive National Baptist Convention in August, bringing 8,000.

• The National Alliance of Black School Educators annual convention in November, bringing 3,500.

Looking ahead to 2015, among the conferences coming to Detroit is the American Society of Association Executives convention, also known as the "Super Bowl" of conferences since it brings executives and meeting planners, alike. And expect about 60,000 people coming to Detroit in 2020 for the Alcoholics Anonymous convention, which is held every five years.

Several things are helping entice new groups to Detroit, Bohde said.

A few years ago, there were just under 2,500 rooms in the downtown area, making it difficult to accommodate the needs of large groups. But at the end of 2008, Greektown Casino-Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel, the Westin Book Cadillac and Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby brought online an additional 1,850 rooms, Bohde said.

Improvements at Cobo Center and downtown are leading to renewed interest in Detroit and commitments into the future years.

"Our story just keeps getting better," Bohde said.

The CVB is now spreading the news of the new hockey arena and entertainment and retail district planned by the Ilitch family, owner of the Red Wings and Tigers.

It's also talking about the M-1 Rail project planned for Woodward Avenue, the Riverwalk, new hotels such as the Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain opening this spring and Aloft Detroit opening next year and the competitive pricing of the market.

"We market Detroit right now as a very affordable destination," Bohde said.

The city boasts the second lowest travel tax rate in the country in terms of hotel room and rental car taxes, second only to Portland, Oregon, he said.